Hill the guy - if Warriors pass on point guard

WARRIORS

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Photo: Marc Serota, Getty Images

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MIAMI - MARCH 22: Forward Jordan Hill #43 of the University of Arizona Wildcats is defended by forward George Tandy #21 of the Cleveland State University Vikings during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the American Airlines Arena on March 22, 2009 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) less

MIAMI - MARCH 22: Forward Jordan Hill #43 of the University of Arizona Wildcats is defended by forward George Tandy #21 of the Cleveland State University Vikings during the second round of the NCAA Division I ... more

Photo: Marc Serota, Getty Images

Hill the guy - if Warriors pass on point guard

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Ask anyone who has followed Don Nelson's career: Could you imagine him starting a front line of players standing 6-foot-11, 6-10 and 6-10, each of them under 24, none a proven NBA scorer?

If the predraft indications are correct, that's the Warriors' plan for the coming season. They appear to be targeting Jordan Hill, the 6-10 power forward out of Arizona, if he's available at the No. 7 slot of the first round Thursday night.

Nelson and general manager Larry Riley were noncommittal in a Monday gathering with the media in Oakland, but they dropped enough hints about the point-guard position - essentially leaving it in Monta Ellis' hands - to make their priorities clear.

Nelson took one look at the collection of writers - mostly columnists who detailed the disconnects and disappointments of last season - and resisted offering any insight. He didn't want to discuss his recent face-to-face meeting with Ellis, "and I don't want to talk about the draft," he said. "I hate to lie to you guys, but if you want to talk about the draft, I will."

Riley was far more expansive, and once the interview was over, it was clear that the Warriors would love to see Hill standing alongside Andris Biedrins and Anthony Randolph on a quick, active front line focusing on defense and rebounding, with Hill ideally adding a low-post scoring presence.

And if Hill isn't available? The Warriors can only hope Ellis is OK with a point-guard selection, because that would be the fall-back plan. Count on Stephen Curry being the selection, should he fall that far, with Tyreke Evans another possibility.

Nelson and Riley flew to Memphis recently to meet with Ellis, who had just become a father (to Monta Jr.) and had expressed concern about the team's direction. All parties agreed it was about "getting on the same page," and both Riley and Ellis denied a published report that the team guaranteed Ellis it would not draft a point guard. In an interview with KNBR, Ellis sounded enthusiastic about the coming season and said, "I'm a Warrior and you don't have to worry. Coach said he's putting the team in my hands, and I'm ready for that responsibility right now."

Riley wouldn't discount the possibility of drafting a player who could eventually become the Warriors' point guard, but he said, "There's only one guy in this draft who could really change a team, lift them up from a 29-win season (the Warriors' total) and turn it around. That's Blake Griffin, and we think we know where he's going (No. 1 overall, to the Clippers).

"There's a lot of potentially good point guards, but I don't see any of them taking over a team, at least right away. Right now, we see Monta at the 1 (point) and Stephen Jackson at the 2. That's how we'd start out at training camp. If we did draft a point, it would be somebody with as much experience and height as possible."

Given that Ricky Rubio would be gone, that would leave the 6-3 Curry, a junior out of Davidson, and Evans, Memphis' 6-5 freshman, as the top candidates, Curry having the edge in experience.

As for Hill, Riley said that unlike most of the available power forwards, "He's ready to play in the NBA right now. He shoots the ball well, plays on the block and really goes after the boards. He could play for us."

NBA draft

When: Thursday

When: 4 p.m.

Where: New York

Warriors' pick: 7th

(No second-round pick)

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